Ubisoft says it’s “biggest productions” won’t arrive until 2026 at the earliest. While fans wait, the publisher will rely on core franchises and back-catalog favorites to carry the weight.
In recent years, Ubisoft has seen varying results across its biggest series. Assassin’s Creed continues to perform well. Rainbow Six remains a reliable live-service success. Other franchises like Far Cry and The Crew have delivered solid, if uneven, results.
That momentum, however, will have to stretch a while longer. Ubisoft announced in its latest financial report that its most anticipated new games are now scheduled for release in 2026 or later. The publisher is extending its development timelines, focusing on quality and long-term player engagement.
Ubisoft delays biggest games until 2026–27
This year, Ubisoft reported $2.01 billion in revenue, slightly below its target. The company attributed the shortfall to “lower than expected partnerships” and “timing impacts,” suggesting that key content arrived too late to influence the bottom line.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched in March following a delay. Ubisoft noted it had the second-best day-one sales revenue in the franchise’s history, behind 2020’s Valhalla. It also reported 160 million hours played to date, though it declined to share new player numbers since passing 3 million shortly after launch.
Meanwhile, the company highlighted steady engagement across its top brands: both Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six drew around 30 million unique players this year, while Far Cry drew around 20 million. These back-catalog figures have become increasingly important as the company moves toward longer development cycles.
Cost-cutting also played a major role in Ubisoft’s fiscal strategy. The company trimmed $217.2 million in fixed costs ahead of schedule, in part by reducing its headcount by 3,000 employees since 2022. It now plans to save an additional $108.6 million over the next two years.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to launch a new Tencent-backed subsidiary to manage its top brands: Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry.
The focus will be on improving single-player storytelling, expanding live-service features, and growing in mobile and emerging markets like China.
Despite delays, Ubisoft is positioning itself for long-term growth. Its core franchises remain strong, but the next few years will test how long that strength can hold without new flagship releases.
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